Oklahoma State's Perrish Cox makes an interception during a practice for the Senior Bowl in January. Cox, also a top kick returner, was the Broncos' fifth-round draft choice.

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, one of two Denver Broncos first round football draft picks, responds to questions during a news conference at the Denver Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Friday, April 23, 2010.(AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

The conclusion of the NFL draft essentially means the Broncos are finished with the bulk of their roster renovation for the 2010 season.

Overpowered by the San Diego Chargers at the line of scrimmage for years, the Broncos went into free agency and spent $50 million to rebuild a new, three-man defensive line, then used the draft to add a tackle, a guard and a center to their offensive front.

Maybe now the Broncos can match the Chargers lick for lick.

The Broncos traded for a renowned backup quarterback in Brady Quinn and drafted their quarterback of the future in Tim Tebow.

Maybe someday — perhaps with starting quarterback Kyle Orton in 2010 — the Broncos can match play for play with San Diego’s Philip Rivers.

The Broncos traded away two of their most talented and disgruntled pass catchers in Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler, then took two receivers, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, early in the draft.

No move was made without the Broncos simultaneously peeking in on the Chargers, who have won four consecutive AFC West Division titles and five of the past six.

It has been awhile since the Super Bowl was the stated goal at Dove Valley. First is figuring out how to overcome the Rivers-led Chargers.

“They’re the team that has dominated this division recently,” said Josh McDaniels, the Broncos’ coach and co-roster architect. “Everything we do in trying to improve our football team keeps in mind we are going to have to compete with them. Oakland is getting better. Kansas City is getter better. We need to stay on track too.”

The Broncos’ projected starting lineup for their Week 1 game at Jacksonville:

The Broncos had a 3 1/2-game lead on the Chargers after Week 6 last season. By the end, the Broncos were 8-8, five behind San Diego — an alarming 8 1/2-game swing in an 11-week period.

As McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders reviewed what went wrong after the team’s 6-0 start last year, it’s clear they determined upgrades were needed at the line of scrimmage, quarterback and in their locker room environment.

Marshall and Scheffler are gone. Nose tackle Jamal Williams and Tebow are in.

Bring on the Chargers?

“It’ll be great to get back out on the field and putting forth some of the things we’ve changed in terms of our scheme and putting players in positions to compete,” McDaniels said. “I’m always excited to see how it plays out.”

BESTS

Potential steal

Late, late pick:

The draft’s final day is often when players with big-time production or big-time workouts find themselves because scouts still have a question or two about them. Pitt tight end Dorin Dickerson, was selected in the seventh round — 227th overall — by Houston. Dickerson ran 4.40 at the combine at 226 pounds and could line up all over the formation if he puts in the time and effort.

Catching a tight end:

The Ravens picked BYU tight end Dennis Pitta in the fourth round, a player who had three 50-catch seasons with the Cougars.

Nose with big upside:

The Chargers also got plenty of value with North Carolina nose tackle Cam Thomas in the fifth round.

WORST

Biggest reach

Players with just one year’s worth of production are always a risk. And while Connecticut wide receiver Marcus Easley was in the school’s program for four years — he began as a walk-on — he had just one catch in 2007 and four catches in 2008 before closing with 48 catches this past season. At 6-feet-2 3/4, 210 pounds, he has good size on the outside and has top-tier speed (4.46 40-yard dash at the combine). The Bills were smitten enough with the potential to use a fourth-round pick — 107th overall — on Easley on Saturday. It is difficult enough to make the transition from college to pros for even the most experienced collegiate wide receivers. Scouts liked his work at the combine, but the fourth round is prime real estate.

Prime position

Thinking big

When all was said and done, it was indeed a big-guy draft. There were 59 defensive linemen selected to lead the way.

Some of those players may end up as linebackers in 3-4 defenses.

There were 35 offensive linemen selected, including 22 tackles, eight guards and five centers. Thirty-four cornerbacks were also selected, though some of those may eventually be tried at safety.

MOST PUZZLING

Fast-rising guy

This would be puzzling in a good way. In the category of “word gets around fast,” Kent State tight end/wide receiver/H-back Jameson Konz (pronounced Cons) turned a pro day workout attended by one team — the Cleveland Browns — into a seventh-round selection by the Seattle Seahawks (245th overall).

Konz (6-feet-3 1/2, 234 pounds) had just 21 catches in the 2009 season to go with two touchdowns. He missed every game but the season opener in 2008, when he suffered an ankle injury after making two catches against Boston College.

He had been a starter at outside linebacker in 2006, finishing with 34 tackles, as well as playing linebacker as a true freshman in 2005.

But he had a staggering 46-inch vertical jump — 2 1/2 inches more than any player at the combine this year — and a 10-foot-8 standing broad jump, which would have been 3 inches better than any tight end at the combine.

His 40s were in the 4.4s and he ran times in drills that would have been the best among tight ends at the combine. Some folks may not know what to make of him, but the numbers were still too much to ignore.

ENCORE, ENCORE

Same old Patriots

For the second consecutive draft, the New England Patriots selected 12 players and made seven trades.

The Patriots made three picks in the second round Friday and had four picks in the seventh round Saturday, including Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson. They also took two tight ends and a punter.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.

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